Serving tray



May 8, 1928.

G. M. MINTON, JR

SERVING TRAY Filed Feb. 25. 192'? A TTORN Patented May 8 1928 UNITED STATES GUSTAVE M. MINTON, JB., OF NEW YORK, N.

SERVING TRAY.

Application filed February 245, 192i ISeriatIfo. 171,015..

g The object of the present invention is to provldea metal serving tray which shall be I g H hold the units against undue movement collapsible and which shall comprise two or more tray units so supported by a frame that p the latter acts, in addition to its supporting function, as a latching means for holdlng the tray units in llllGllTVallDllS positions;

The invention will be-understood by ref erence to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention showing the tray units placed in the same horizontal plane, and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same with the tray units in position for use;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3-3, Figure 1; V

Figure 4: is a detail view, partly insection, showing a modification in the latching means for the tray units, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a corner of the modified tray structure, showing the passage for the pivot pin, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one end of the framemember showing the manner in which the pivot pin is held; a

Figure 8 is a detail view on the line 88, Figure 5, and partly in section. 6

In both embodiments of the present invention the frame consists of two spring end members 1 which are connected by a bar 2. The end members 1 pivotally support two trays 3 and 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 each tray carries at vopposed points cup-like projections 5 which are shown in cross section at Figure 3. The cup-likc projections 5 fit into socket members 6 carried Eachat the ends of frame members 1. socket member 6 formed with one or more sets of opposed recesses 7 of a size adapted to receive the turned edge 4" of a tray unit.

The distance between the wall of recess '7 of one socket member 6 and that of the corre sponding opposite socketinember carried by the coacting framemember will be less than the length of the tray pivotally supported in such socket members, so that when the parts are assembled members 1 will be slightly sprung back at their ends so as to exert a gripping pressure upon the tray units. When the tray units are movedto the position shown in Figure 2, the turned edges fl" of each tray will fit into their appropriate recesses in the socket members 6 and the walls of therecesses will :act as latches for the trayunits, withan action sufiicient to when light objects are placed upon them, but

insufiicientto prevent collapse of the tray drawings.

In Figures t to 8 inclusive I have illustrateda modification of the tray shown in the preceding figures, pivot pins being employed intermediate theframe members 1 and the tray units. The two rolled side edges of each tray unit are formed with ap ertures 8, each aperture being adapted to receive a pin 9 carried at one end of a spring frame member 1. Said members 1 do not carry socket members 6 as in the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 but they are depressed at 10, Figure 7, to form latching recesses for the rolled side edges of the tray units, The pins 9 are headed and are located in the centres of depressions 10.- A feature of the construction is that the heads of the pins 9 are covered by laminating the spring frame members 1, and the laminations may be formed by folding a plate upon itself and thence angularly in the shape in dicated in full in sectional lines, F igure 4, the laminations of the ends of the structure then. being bent away from each other for the insertion of pins 9, whereupon the ends may be brought back into close contactas indicated in the drawings.

The walls of the recesses 10, in the said modification serve the same function as the recesses 7 in the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2. The ends of the frame members 1 will be sprung outwardly when the tray units are assembled on the frame and.

7 1,669,065 [PATENT OFFICE,

1. A serving tray comprising a plurality of spring side frame members connected together and a plurality of tray units, each' tray unit being pivotally supported by two opposed spring frame members, a rigid member connecting said frame members intermediate their ends in combination with means whereby a predeterminedmovement of a tray unit relatively to said frame members springs the latter slightly apart amtiil the 'walls of which are adapted to engage edges of the trays when the latter are moved to given positions, the arrangement being such that when the trays are moved from said positions the frame members are sprung nin iaildirection away from the tray units.

3. A serving tray comprising opposed spring frame members, a rigid bar connectlng said members intermediate their ends, recesses formed in the ends of said members,

'the walls of which are adapted to embrace the edges of thetrays, and spins adjacent said recesses and held the frame members, said pins entering apertures formed in the edges'of'th'e tray units.

Intestimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GUSTAVE M. MTN TON, JR. 

